Tonka Bean

Other Names : Baryosma tongo, Coumarrouna odorata, Dipteryx odorata, Tonquin bean The Tonka bean comes from the seeds of the Tonka tree, also known as cumaru/kumaru, which is native to Central and South America, and is a member of the legume family.
See also : Coumarin

Special Precautions of Tonka Bean

• Tonka bean oil is not to be taken internally and can be toxic if consumed.
• It should be avoided with blood thinning medication.

Health Benefits and uses of Tonka Bean are

• Antiseptic : Traditional herbal treatments, still used to date in the forests of South America, recognizes the importance of Tonka bean oil as an antiseptic, as it is successfully used to treat ear aches. Tonka beans are soaked in rum to treat cuts, bruises, rheumatism and even snake bites.
• Expectorant : The Tonka bean is said to have anti-spasmodic properties and is used to treat coughs and asthma. By signalling the body to increase the amount of secretions, the expectorant property works by propelling infectious matter out of the body through mucous, and lubricates the lung passageways. This clears chesty coughs and relieves asthma.
• Anti-coagulant : The coumarin derivatives obtained from the Tonka bean and found in Tonka bean oil, are used medicinally as anti-coagulants. Anti-coagulants are substances that prevent clotting of blood. Such substances are found naturally in leeches and other blood sucking parasites. Allopathic drugs for blood thinning, such as Warfarin contain Tonka bean extract – however, large doses of this oil are toxic and fatal when consumed.